29.05.2026 

An exhibition of paintings by Madhukar Mahajan and a group of artists from Mumbai at the Roerich Memorial Estate

From May 29 to June 2, the International Roerich Memorial Trust hosted a remarkable exhibition featuring five artists from the state of Maharashtra.

The exhibition was formally inaugurated by the Russian and Indian Curators of the Roerich Trust, Larisa Surgina and Suresh Kumar, together with Amarjit Anand, Dmitry Surgin, and other members and visitors of the IRMT.

The principal participant of the exhibition was Madhukar Mahajan, a renowned artist and educator who has devoted more than forty years of his life to the world of art. Joining him was his brother, Manohar Mahajan, who has also spent decades contributing to artistic creativity and the development of India’s cultural heritage. The exhibition further showcased works by three of Madhukar Mahajan’s students — Anil, Ajay, and Devdatta. The story of Devdatta is particularly inspiring. At only seventeen years of age, he has already mastered the demanding medium of watercolor and creates expressive portraits with a level of skill that many artists spend years striving to achieve.

Most of the artworks presented at the exhibition depict the landscapes, architecture, and everyday life of the Indian states of Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. Through their paintings, visitors could explore historic streets, fishing villages, mountain scenery, traditional markets, and scenes of daily life. The artists vividly captured the diversity of India and the richness of its cultural traditions.

A special place in the exhibition was dedicated to watercolor painting. All participating artists are accomplished masters of this medium, which is widely regarded as one of the most challenging forms of visual art. Their works are distinguished by transparent colors, delicate treatment of light, and an extraordinary sense of ease and fluidity. Each painting is filled with emotion and careful attention to even the smallest details.

Madhukar Mahajan founded his own art school in Mumbai, Kala Academy, where students of all ages — from seven years old to sixty and beyond — study and develop their artistic abilities. He firmly believes that it is never too late to begin drawing and painting.

One of the most inspiring examples is Anil K., a student of the academy and participant in the exhibition. He joined the academy at the age of sixty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he developed a serious interest in painting for the first time and subsequently began studying under Madhukar Mahajan. Today, at the age of sixty-five, after only five years of dedicated practice, he has reached a level at which his paintings are exhibited publicly and appreciated by collectors and art enthusiasts alike.

In addition to organizing exhibitions, Madhukar Mahajan conducts art workshops and creative programs throughout India, encouraging people to discover the artist within themselves regardless of age or previous experience.

This was Madhukar Mahajan’s second exhibition at the Roerich Trust. His artistic vision resonates deeply with the philosophy of Nicholas Roerich, who famously wrote:

"Culture is the reverence of Light. Culture is love for humanity. Culture is the fragrance, the synthesis of life and beauty."

Despite the geographical distance between them, Russia and India share a remarkably similar understanding of beauty and spirituality. Roerich’s wisdom, his love for the Himalayas, and his faith in the unifying power of culture continue to inspire people in Russia, India, and around the world.

Like Roerich, Madhukar Mahajan regards art as a path toward bringing people together. This spirit of culture, beauty, mutual understanding, and inner spiritual aspiration was deeply felt throughout the exhibition in Naggar, where artists from different generations gathered to communicate through the universal language of art — a language understood by every human heart.